SVG sends four to 2016 Rio Olympics

Two representatives from track and field — Kineke Alexander and Brandon Valentine-Parris and swimmers Shne Joachim and Nikolas Sylvester will carry the hopes of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) at this year’s Summer Olympics, which gets going today, August 5, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.{{more}}

First to be in competition will be Joachim, as she appears in the 100m breaststroke on August 7, while Sylvester goes into the pool August 11 in the men’s 50m freestyle.

Valentine–Parris hits the track August 12 in the 400m men’s heats and Alexander over the same distance, one day later.

The four will be overseen by a management team of Wayne Williams, who is chief of mission; Jacintha Ballantyne – chaperone; Kyle Dougan – swim coach; and listed as track and field coach – Kittian Eric Francis.

The four Vincentians who will be in competition have varied experiences at international outings, with Alexander leading the pack.

Alexander is on her third Olympics, having previously attended the 2008 edition in Beijing and the 2012 London Games.

SVG’s most decorated athlete, Alexander has medalled at the Carifta Games, OECS championships, NACAC Under-23, CAC championships and the Pan Am Games.

Her best time in her pet event, the 400m, is 51.81 seconds.

Meanwhile, Valentine–Parris, who is a second year student at the Claflin University in the USA, finished third in the 400 metres at the 2016 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

He earned the bronze medal in the 400 metres, finishing in a time of 47.06 seconds. His third place finish earned him the 2016 Indoor Track and Field All-American Status.

Joachim, 16, has won medals for four consecutive years at Carifta Swimming Championships, becoming the only Vincentian to achieve this feat.

She is the Carifta record holder in the 50 metre breaststroke age 13 to 14.

Her first Olympic Games outing, Joachim has represented SVG at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow, Scotland and at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto.

Like Joachim, Sylvester is attending his first Olympics. His experiences have been limited to regional club invitational meets, the OECS Championships and the 2015 Pan Am Games.

St Vincent and the Grenadines debuted at the Olympic Games in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, with contingents from track and field and boxing.

At the Barcelona Games four years later, SVG had representation from track and field.

Track and field and swimming were the two disciplines in which SVG was represented at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012.(RT)